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Archive for February 17th, 2009

TRENTON—Citing challenges facing public education in the state, the president of the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) recently urged eligible citizens to consider serving on their local boards of education.

Candidates have until 4 p.m., Monday, March 2 to file a “nominating petition” with their local school board office.The petition places the candidate’s name on the ballot in the Annual School Election, which this year takes place on Tuesday, April 21. Approximately 1,500 local school board positions will be on the ballot statewide.

“These are exciting and challenging times to be involved in public education,” said Harry J. Delgado, NJSBA’s president and a member of the South Brunswick Board of Education for more than 13 years. “New Jersey’s public schools must meet new state academic standards, accommodate the needs of diverse student populations, and be accountable to the entire community.

CLARK—On Sunday, March 1, the Polish Cultural Foundation will present Ania and Piotr Filochowski, an accomplished brother and sister pair of violin prodigies.

The Filochowskis are currently studying at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City under the guidance of Maestro Itzhak Perlman who personally invited them both to participate in his program.Having made their orchestral debuts at ages 10 and 11 respectively, both have played in the National Philharmonic of Warsaw, the Carnegie Hall series “From the Top” and numerous European and American competitions. Ania was named “Personality of the Year” by Polish National Radio in 2005 and recently Piotr claimed first prize at the William Choral Performing Arts Competition.

What’s Pushing Your Buttons?

What motivates you? That’s the question I’d like to ask in this inaugural column on motivation. Are you motivated by fame, fortune or fear. Or is it something deeper that fans the flames inside of you. Perhaps you are like Jeanne Louise Calment whose burning desire enabled her to do something that no other human being has done before. A feat so spectacular that it generated headlines around the globe, got her a role in a motion picture, and landed her in the Guinness Book of World Records. A record that has yet to be beaten.

Jeanne Louise, however, did not initially motivate herself. It was someone else who drew the line in the sand. But, it became a line she was determined to cross.

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